 |

Sony Pictures TV/ESPN
The Worldwide Leader in Sports Meets the Worldwide Leader in Quiz.... Again
"ESPN Jeopardy!" Renewed for Season 2... and Contestants Are Wanted!
From Deadline
|
Civilian sports fans now can apply to play the latest version of Jeopardy! after it was revealed that ESPN Jeopardy! is returning for a second season.
Disney+ and Hulu premiered the first season of the show in July with stars such as Jon Hamm, Hannah Storm, Manti Te’o and Adam Pally.
It now will return with everyday sports fans facing off against one another to win a $300,000 prize.
In the first season, celebrities and ESPN talent competed in the tournament-style event for a $500,000 prize for the charity of their choice. Joe Buck, who hosts the show, announced the renewal on Monday Night Football as the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
The series, which also is available to watch on the ESPN app, is the latest spinoff of the classic game show. It comes after Sports Jeopardy!, which ran for three seasons and over 100 episodes on Crackle; Rock & Roll Jeopardy!, which ran for four seasons on VH1; JEP!, a kid-centric version for Game Show Network; and, more recently, Celebrity Jeopardy! and Pop Culture Jeopardy!, which is hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost and moved from Amazon to Netflix for its second season, which debuted in May. There was also a recent YouTube digital edition.
ESPN Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Michael Davies, who exec produces the main Jeopardy!, serves as executive producer. It is shot on the Alex Trebek Stage, the official name of Stage 10 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.
Deadline
Jeopardy.com
TV Insider |
posted 9/29/2026 |
 |

Netflix Studios
Golden "Ticket" For Netflix
4.6 Million Views for the Series
From Deadline
|
Willy Wonka has delivered for Netflix.
The streamer has landed a bona fide reality ratings hit with Wonka’s The Golden Ticket after the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed competition series debuted at number two on its English-language TV chart.
The series scored 4.6M views in its opening week, becoming one of Netflix’s biggest unscripted launches in recent years This is in line with the latest season of Love Is Blind – season ten set in Ohio – which also scored 4.6M in its opening week.
The Kinetic Content show is considered one of Netflix’s biggest unscripted hits (its premiere came before Netflix changed the way it calculates viewers).
The numbers bode well for a renewal of the Eureka-produced show. Age of Attraction, Velvet Hammer’s dating reality series that launched earlier this year, premiered with 3.8M viewers in its first week and was handed a quick renewal, although admittedly The Golden Ticket is a more expensive show to produce.
Shot in Australia, the series sees 12 lucky golden ticket winners entering the Chocolate Factory to compete for a sweet prize: a lifetime supply of money. As the winners and their partners step through the factory gates, they face a series of series of challenges. There are games, tests and temptations designed to test the competitors physically, mentally, and morally before one walks away with the prize.
The Futon Critic
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
TV Line
The Hollywood Reporter
Gizmodo
Consequence of Sound
Vulture
AV Club
Unilad
Reality Blurred
The Futon Critic
Gizmodo
Variety
Reality Tea
People
TV Insider
BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: Reality Blurred
BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: The Telegraph
BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: Variety
The Wrap
Variety
Primetimer
Swooon
Deadline |
posted 9/29/2026 |
 |

University of Tennessee
DENNIS HASKINS: 1950-2026
"Saved by the Bell" Actor Played Games
From Deadline |
Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Mr. Belding in Saved by the Bell, has died. He was 75.
His agent Jay Schachter confirmed the news in a statement, saying “It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more. He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans.
“He always had time for them, no matter what. He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly. I’m heartbroken,” he continued.
Haskins cause of death was not disclosed.
He first played Principal Richard Belding in the Disney Channel series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, opposite Hayley Mills in 1989. After one season, the show was retooled as Saved by the Bell on NBC, where he reprised his role through its four-season run. Haskins returned as Mr. Belding for Saved by the Bell: The New Class in 1993 and played the role for seven more seasons, until the show’s finale in 2000.
Other acting credits for Haskins included Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Malibu, CA, The Practice, The West Wing, The Rerun Show, The Stoneman, 7th Heaven, Going Down, Red Water, Tangy Guacamole, An Ordinary Killer, JAG, Dead End Road, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Men of a Certain Age, The Bold and the Beautiful, Victorious, Mad Men, Emerald Acres, How I Met Your Mother, Destroy the Alpha Gammas, New Girl, Hot in Cleveland, This Isn’t Working, Bill Nye Saves the World, Abstruse, Enigma, A Bennett Song Holiday and many others.
In game shows, he was in the audience of "Dancing with the Stars" and on the panel of "Figure It Out".
“[I’m] heartbroken to hear about my old friend Dennis Haskins,” actor Mario Lopez, who played the jock, A.C. Slater, wrote on social media. “He played the principal, but Dennis was the biggest kid on the SBTB set. If you knew him, you loved him — and if there was karaoke, you knew Dennis was getting on that mic! I’m grateful for the laughs, the memories, and the friendship we shared all these years. Rest easy, my friend. You’ll always be part of our Bayside family. ❤"
Tiffani Thiessen, who played cheerleader Kelly Kapowski on the show, remembered him on Instagram. “Dennis Haskins was a steady presence in my teenage years, the kind of figure who kept us in line while making sure we knew he was in our corner,” she wrote. “I will always remember his kindness and be grateful for the memories we as a cast got to share with him.”
And Lark Voorhies, the show’s wealthy Lisa Turtle, similarly praised Haskins’ kindness. “Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life, which makes losing him hurt so deeply,” she wrote on Instagram. “We shared so much history together from our earliest days, and through it all, he remained a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart. I am truly heartbroken by his passing and will miss his warmth and laughter more than words can say.”
Shortly after news of Dennis Haskins' death broke, the actor was remembered online by Dimples, a famous Los Angeles karaoke bar he was known to frequent over the years.
"Dennis was a staple at Dimples," reads the Instagram post. "A lot of people thought he owned it, but he didn't. He just loved the place and its people. He enjoyed singing for people, meeting them, and taking selfies with his fans. Dimples closed down about 11 years ago, and people still associate him with his beloved 'second home.' He was known to most as Mr. Belding from 'Saved by the Bell,' but to us, he was much more than that."
The post continued: "About eight years ago, he became ill. He had been silent about his fight with Parkinson's, among other health concerns, because he did not want the attention. He did not want to have to tell people. He would say, 'What do I even say?' So I respected his wishes and stayed quiet, and I helped him through his journey into the next chapter of his life. Late last night, that journey ended for him. He is now at peace and is probably entertaining the people in the sky."
"What a cool and amazing life he had," the post concluded. "Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten."
He is survived by a son, named Dustin.
Deadline
Rolling Stone
TV Line
WTVC Chattanooga
TV Line
The Wrap
Entertainment Weekly
Variety
Entertainment Weekly
The Hollywood Reporter
|
posted 9/29/2026 |
 |

SEG/Amazon MGM Studios/CBS
Open (Era) For Business
Meet the New Castaways of Survivor 51
From The Futon Critic
|
SURVIVOR revealed today in a YouTube livestream the 21 new castaways who will compete against each other when the Emmy(R) Award-winning series premieres its 51st edition, kicking off the series' new "Open Era" with a special two-hour episode, Wednesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.
The groundbreaking reality series, which shifts to 90-minute weekly episodes beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 8:00 PM, returns with an all-new expanded class of dynamic and determined competitors. The 51st season marks the first of SURVIVOR's "Open Era," in which every twist, every idol, every advantage in the series' history may come into play in any order and without warning.
Twenty-six years after it first premiered, SURVIVOR continues to prove both the ultimate test of physical and mental will as well as the adventure of a lifetime. Castaways stranded on the beaches of Fiji are tasked with forming a new society, adapting to their surroundings and navigating an unpredictable social game to ensure their torch stays lit. SURVIVOR, currently nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program, is hosted by five-time Emmy winner Jeff Probst.
The following 21 new Castaways, including a professional wrestler, sociology professor, medical student, baseball executive and farmer, are set to embark on the adventure of a lifetime on SURVIVOR 51, where they will test their endurance, strategy and willpower in pursuit of the title of Sole Survivor and the $1 million grand prize.
- Aaliyah Puglia (24; Gloucester City, NJ; chef)
- Alexis Levine (34; Atlanta; criminal defense attorney)
-
An "Thien An" Nguyen (24; Fort Worth, TX; medical student)
- Ana Sani (34; Richmond Hill, ON; voice actress - "Strawberry Shortcake")
- Angelica "Jelly" Loblack (29; Garland, TX; sociology professor)
- Brady Booker (27; La Salle, IL; pro wrestler with AEW)
-
Carter Krull (24; Rock Rapids, IA; livestock farmer)
- Cristian Chavez (26; Salt Lake City; head of HR)
- Danny "Kilby" Kilby (30; Mount Forest, ON; game designer)
-
Devin Way (33; Lufkin, TX; actor)
- Erick Macksoud (34; Lincoln, RI; mental health counselor)
- Jenna Doore (30; Perrysburg, OH; wedding photographer)
- Kristin Flickinger (49; Ketchum, ID; crisis management)
- Lewis Kelly (28; Dublin, IRL; farmer)
-
Linnea Capobianco (25; Kearny, NJ; entrepreneur)
- Maggie Nestor (40; Middleway, WV; farmer)
- Mike Pinsky (32; New York City; executive of baseball operations for the New York Yankees)
- Ori Jean-Charles (27; Spring Valley, NY;
personal trainer)
- Patt Cannaday (33; Tampa; federal prosecutor)
- Rob Antonson (40;
Johnston, RI; airline gate agent)
- Sharonda Cox (34; Pompano Beach, FL; resident OBGYN)
The Futon Critic
TV Insider
Variety
Entertainment Weekly
The Wrap
TV Line
Deadline
TV Line
Entertainment Weekly
TV Insider
TV Line
The Hollywood Reporter
The New York Times
Variety
Deadline
The Hollywood Reporter |
posted 9/29/2026 |
 |
Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "Guilty..." |
- Caleb Flynn found guilty of murdering his wife (Variety)
- DWTS: Will Maks ever return? (Entertainment Weekly) Which pro did Witney Carson worship growing up? (Entertainment Weekly) How is season 35 Jenna Johnson's "dream come true"? (The Hollywood Reporter), and Jimmy Kimmel promises $5000 to every audience member if Guillermo wins (The Wrap)
- Jeremy Clarkson working on another project to follow "Clarkson's Farm" (Deadline)
- Ben Chan to host Jeopardy! Bar League in Green Bay (Green Bay Press Gazette)
- Rob Lowe admits to being "very scared" of his best onscreen kiss (Entertainment Weekly)
- Millionaire co-creator Steve Knight: the big-time Hollywood writer... you've never heard of (Variety)
- Doug Mason breaks his silence about very nearly being Taylor Frankie Paul's last bachelor standing (Reality TV World)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Sam Reich (AV Club)
|

posted 9/29/2023 |
 |

Fremantle/ABC
Welcome to ... Y'allywood?
"American Idol" Moving to Georgia
From Deadline
|
The volume of reality TV production in Los Angeles has been falling over the last five years and the situation is set to worsen as one of the biggest music competition shows is set to leave the city. Deadline understands that American Idol is moving production from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area in Georgia.
The ABC show is moving production for its upcoming Season 25, which premieres in the new year, Fremantle, which produces the show with Sony Pictures Television-backed 19 Entertainment, confirmed to Deadline.
The source reports that Fremantle is in final talks with a studio complex in the area but that it has not signed the deal.
Georgia is one of the main shooting locations outside of L.A. and New York in the U.S. and has been the home for various Marvel movies and shows such as Captain America: Brave New World and Wandavision as well as unscripted series such as Fox’s The 1% Club and ABC game show Press Your Luck, hosted by Elizabeth Banks.
It comes after Fox moved production of one of the other big music competition series – The Masked Singer – out of the state and to New Jersey for Season 15. One of the reasons that Fox is moving The Masked Singer is that The Garden State offers production tax incentives of 30% on qualified expenses with up to 40% on certain studio projects and unlike many states, including California, allows all types of unscripted shows to qualify.
This is similar in Georgia, which offers up to a 30% tax credit for unscripted and reality television productions that spend at least $500,000 in the state, which is one of the main reasons for the Idol move.
Idol’s departure from California will be a blow for reality production in the state. FilmLA recently released data for production in the second quarter of the year and while television rose overall from last year, unscripted productions in LA had 40% fewer shoot days than in the second quarter of 2025. Over the last five years, it has seen a 62.7% drop, per the organization.
One thing that will not change: the cast of characters - host Ryan Seacrest & judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood have announced that they will be back.
Luke and Carrie announced the news during the Luke Bryan & Friends concert at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, September 24, while Lionel appeared via video amid his recovery from a recent heart procedure.
Deadline
Los Angeles Times
WABE Atlanta
WZFX Whiteville/Fayetteville
TV Insider
The Wrap
Reality TV World
Reality TV World |
posted 9/28/2026 |
 |
 
Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery
Not So Fast, Eager McBeaver...
Judge Grants Delay in Settlement
From Deadline
|
Mere hours before a court hearing on the much criticized settlement between Paramount and a coalition of blue state attorneys general on the $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, ParaBros foes have gained a victory that could see an expensive delay on the deal closing.
“The Court GRANTS the administrative motions to file amicus briefs,” U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin just ruled on Block the Merger‘s Administrative motion filed earlier today.
“All amicus briefs must be filed on the docket by no later than 12:01 a.m. PST on September 25, 2026. This deadline will not be extended, and tardy submissions will not be considered.”
With an 11 a.m. PT virtual hearing before Martinez-Olguin widely viewed as a rubberstamping of the September 21 antitrust settlement and hence the mega-merger itself, the granting of Block the Merger’s move makes it almost certain the deal won’t be formally approved today.
“We are pleased that the court is allowing the public to weigh in on this important issue because the AGs have failed to adequately represent the public interest in this case,” Free Press Co-CEO and BTM co-counsel Jessica J. González told Deadline after the motion was granted. “The consent decree is weak and unenforceable. We look forward to explaining that in further detail in our brief due at midnight tonight.”
DEVELOPMENTS SINCE...
-
Shares in Paramount ended Tuesday’s trading at $10.11, down almost 25% in 2026 to date. The stock slumped late in the day Monday despite the settlement due to concerns about potential costs tied to when it manages to complete the $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Paramount has promised to pay a “ticking fee” of about $7 million a day to WBD shareholders if the deal is still pending as of October 1.
- Paramount’s deal with the 12 state attorneys general to settle their antitrust lawsuit over the Warner Bros. Discovery merger is not official just yet: The judge in the case has some “outstanding questions” about the settlement, which requires her approval before it takes effect. In an order issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin granted the parties’ motion to vacate the hearing about Paramount’s previous motion to require the states (and the WGA) to post $1.88 billion bond to cover the company’s financial losses in the event it prevailed in court. That had been scheduled for Sept. 24.
- Paramount executives have discussed seeking an equity investment from Elon Musk as they prepare to close the acquisition of Warner. Bros. Discovery, according to a Semafor report today.
-
Paramount Skydance said Thursday it is launching a syndication to raise $7.5 billion through a proposed senior secured incremental tranche of term “B” loans. The David Ellison-led company it will use the funds toward its $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger and to pay down certain other debt. In total, Paramount said it now intends to raise approximately $44.4 billion of additional secured debt, in addition to previously announced financings (subject to market and other conditions).
- Mergers-and-acquisitions specialists weighed in on the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger Thursday, which appears just days from closing despite an 11th-hour legal hiccup. The $110 billion deal is on track to close in the next two weeks after a settlement of two antitrust lawsuits on Monday, though a federal judge delayed a hearing where she was due to review the settlement. Assuming it does finally close, the transaction “is evidence that, really, tech has won,” said David Hernand, a partner at the Simpson Thacher law firm, during a panel at the Financial Times Business of Entertainment Summit. “Tech came in and said, ‘We can build a better mousetrap on the distribution side.’ Distribution – when we’re talking about electronic distribution, whether it’s cable or internet – is moving atoms, and tech companies are really good at that, as it turns out.”
- In an SEC filing Friday, Paramount said its board on Sept. 25 “determined to voluntarily withdraw the listing of its Class B common stock” from the Nasdaq Global Select Market, under the ticker “PSKY,” and transfer the listing to the New York Stock Exchange. The company expects that the listing and trading of the Class B Common Stock on Nasdaq will end at market close on or about Oct. 5, and that trading will begin on the NYSE at market open on or about Oct. 6.
- Paramount and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general defended their antitrust settlement on Monday from a series of criticisms raised last week by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. In separate filings, the two sides argued that the deal was vigorously negotiated, has “teeth,” and should not be subjected to an independent “public interest” review. Paramount argued that the deal resolves the state’s primary concern of a reduction in theatrical releases after it merges with Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Paramount began marketing a massive $44.4 billion debt offering Monday to fund its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery as it awaits a decision by a federal judge that’s the last remaining hurdle to clinching the deal. “The actual closing date of the acquisition is uncertain,” Paramount said in an SEC filing today. The merger “will only be consummated following the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions in the WBD merger agreement.” It set an October 7 marker for the purposes of the offering.
The Futon Critic
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
Entertainment Weekly
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
Variety
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
Deadline
The Wall Street Journal
The Wrap
Variety
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap
Deadline
The Futon Critic
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Variety
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
The Wrap
The Wrap
The Futon Critic
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
Variety
Variety
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
The Wrap
Variety
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Variety
The Wrap
Variety
Financial Times
The Wrap
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
The Wrap
Reuters
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
Variety
The Wrap
Variety
The Wrap
Yahoo!/Reuters
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
CNN
Ars Technica
The Wrap
The New York Times
Variety
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
Variety
Variety
ProPublica
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
TV Newscheck
Variety
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
Variety
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Variety
Deadline
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap
The Hollywood Reporter
TV Newscheck
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
The Hollywood Reporter
The Wrap
The Wrap
Wall Street Journal
Deadline
Variety
BBC News
Reuters
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
Deadline
The Wrap
The Wrap
Wall Street Journal
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
Variety
Variety
Deadline
Variety
Variety
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
Deadline
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
The Wrap
The Wrap
Deadline
Variety
Variety
Variety
Variety
The Wrap
Deadline
|
posted 9/28/2026 |
 |
"Love Is Blind".... from Boston
Meet the Singles
From The Futon Critic |
These Boston singles don't do small talk. Meet the Love is Blind S11: Boston pod squad ahead of the season premiere on October 14th - only on Netflix!
Singles who want to be loved for who they are have signed up for a less conventional approach to modern dating, and will choose someone to marry without ever meeting them. Over several weeks, the newly engaged couples will move in together, plan their wedding, and find out if their physical connection matches their strong emotional bond developed in the pods. When their wedding day arrives, will real-world realities and external factors push them apart, or will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with? Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, this addictive 12-episode social experiment will uncover whether looks, race, or age do matter - or if love really is blind.
Boston's never seen this much tea. Meet the Love is Blind S11: Boston pod squad ahead of the season premiere on October 14th - only on Netflix!
· Blake - 38, Yacht Captain
· Cam - 29, HR Generalist
· Iman - 34, Software Engineer
· Jay - 36, Director of Sales
· John - 33, Account Executive
· Mark - 37, Wine Sales Consultant
· Matt - 37, Beekeeper
· Michael - 35, Account Executive
· Morrey - 32, Entrepreneur
· Rob - 40, AI AI Infrastructure Sales
· Scott - 38, Owner at Ascend Performance
· Scott "Stew" - 34, Director of Engineering
· Tucker - 35, Sr. Solutions Consultant
· Wilson - 35, Senior Compliance Manager
· Aneha - 28, Principle Engineer
· Benita - 31, Insurance Agent
· Brittany - 34, Attorney
· Diana - 29, Nanny
· Erika - 37, Marketing Director
· Jax - 31, Entrepreneur
· Jenn - 39, Master Hairstylist
· Kara - 32, Strategic Account Manager
· Kerry - 37, Athletic Director
· Liz - 34, NICU Nurse
· Malanie - 33, Portfolio Analyst
· Michaella - 35, Retail Consultant
· Rachel - 32, Academic Advisor
· Sahar - 34, Orthodontist
· Sarah - 34, Healthcare Program Manager
· Wilnie - 33, Mental Health Counselor
Starting October 14, new episodes of Love Is Blind will roll out each Wednesday across 12 episodes, as these singles embark on their journey of romance and self-discovery:
-
Week One: Episodes 1-5 | 10/14/2026
-
Week Two: Episodes 6-8 | 10/21/2026
-
Week Three: Episodes 9-11 | 10/28/2026
-
Week Four: Episode 12 | 11/4/2026
The Futon Critic
Reality Tea
Deadline |
posted 9/28/2026 |
 |

WWE
RICK ACHBERGER: 1958-2026
WWE's "Sign Guy" Played "Deal or No Deal"
From Athlon Sports |
One of the most recognizable fans in WWE history has died. Rick Achberger, better known to generations of wrestling fans as “WWE Sign Guy,” passed away Sunday, Sept. 27 at the age of 68.
Lance Peterson announced the news on social media, remembering Achberger as a great person who loved talking with fellow fans at wrestling shows. Peterson said Achberger had dealt with health issues for the past couple of years and that his condition had declined rapidly over the past month. A specific cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Achberger became instantly recognizable during the 2000s for his red hat, blue work shirt and seemingly endless collection of signs. He attended dozens of WWE events each year and eventually became enough of a fixture that seeing him on television felt like part of the show itself. Tributes quickly poured in Sunday from wrestlers and personalities who had gotten to know him over the years.
Many WWE fixtures have commented on Achberger’s impact on them and their work since news of his passing hit Sunday afternoon. Fittingly for someone who was so identified with “the WWE Universe”, John Cena was among them, summing up what Sigh Guy meant to the pro wrestling community:
I consider our audience our biggest superstars. Rick Achberger worked as hard as any one of us to spread joy and encourage escaping whatever burden life threw you. Loss affects us all differently. As I process this, I choose to reflect on “Sign Guy” ALWAYS making my days better.
Chief Content Officer and WWE Hall of Famer Paul “Triple H” Levesque also reflected on Achberger and his relationship to the product:
Saddened to hear of the death of Rick Achberger, known to the WWE Universe as ‘Sign Guy.’ For decades, Rick was a fixture at events holding a sign that expressed exactly how he felt about you that given evening. He will be missed by the entire @WWE family. We send condolences to his family and friends
Rhea Ripley added her tribute to Sign Guy late Sunday evening:
RIP ‘sign guy’! Its hurts my heart to know that all the cheeky and smart ass interactions we had at the shows together are now just memories… Your presence and hilarious signs always made house shows & tvs so much more fun! Rest in peace my dude
JBL also remembered Sign Guy as someone who made a positive impact on the wrestling business and eventually became a friend. Former WWE Champion Big E remembered looking forward to spotting Achberger’s unmistakable outfit in the crowd. “Always looked forward to seeing his signature red hat and blue shirt,” Big E wrote, adding that their interactions were consistently “fun and light-hearted.”
Bayley shared an especially fitting tribute. She recalled watching Sign Guy on television when she was a child, including his appearance on WWE Confidential, before eventually becoming one of the wrestlers featured on his signs herself. “Felt like I really made it when he started making signs for me,” Bayley wrote.
NXT announcer Mike Rome remembered Achberger as “always clever, always fun,” sharing a photo of Sign Guy holding a sign jokingly identifying himself as Rome’s hairdresser.
Alexa Bliss responded to Rome’s tribute with her own simple message: “RIP Rick.”
Wade Barrett also remembered Achberger as a “top dude” who made him laugh both during his years as a wrestler and later from the commentary desk.
His fandom became so famous that WWE incorporated it into mainstream television. Achberger appeared on Deal or No Deal in 2007, where John Cena and Bobby Lashley supported him while Edge and Randy Orton heckled him. WWE reported at the time that Achberger had attended more than 1,000 events. He ultimately walked away with $106,000.
Athlon Sports
Cageside Seats
Yahoo!
Athlon Sports
Complex
|
posted 9/28/2026 |
 |
Monday Lightning Round
... or "45 Years of Bully!" |
- Bullseye at 45: the story behind the classic (Daily Nightly)
- LIST ABUSE: 9 Easter eggs in "Wonka's The Golden Ticket" (People) plus that chocolate river ain't chocolate (Netflix Tudum)
- Gottmik booked on DUI (TMZ)
- Ryan Seacrest admits to a mistake while looking for the next "Top Host" (People)
- Colin Jost animates his biggest mistake - that boat of his. (TV Line)
- Chris Hardwick has a third stand-up special (Deadline)
- A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Michael Sheen (BBC Media Centre)
|

posted 9/28/2023 |
 |

Studio Lambert/Peacock
Fans Remain Faithful
"Traitors: New Blood" the Breakout Freshman Hit of the Season Thanks to Streaming
From the Hollywood Reporter
|
The initial on-air ratings for The Traitors: New Blood were just OK. But streaming on Peacock gave a big boost to the show’s debut.
New Blood, a version of The Traitors featuring non-famous players, drew 2.58 million viewers on NBC for the first half of its two-episode premiere on Sept. 17. The second episode dipped to 1.93 million viewers. Repeats the next night helped some, adding 1.14 million viewers to the first episode’s total and 901,000 to the second. That put the two episodes at 3.72 million and 2.84 million viewers — or an average of 3.28 million.
Three days of streaming on Peacock and other delayed viewing, however, put The Traitors: New Blood into another tier. Per NBCUniversal, each episode grew to more than 6 million viewers with multi-platform viewing (including the Sept. 18 repeats). That would mean the first episode grew by 61 percent from its on-air total, and episode two more than doubled. The two episodes also had the largest three-day totals ever on Peacock for an NBC or Bravo show, and the 6 million viewer average makes New Blood the biggest unscripted series premiere on NBC in six years.
There’s some logic to the big jump once New Blood hit Peacock: The streamer is, after all, home to the celebrity version of The Traitors, which is one of the service’s most popular shows. It’s also pretty common for network series to add a sizable amount of viewers on streaming — though not necessarily in such a short span of time.
Studio Lambert produces The Traitors: New Blood. Host Alan Cumming executive produces with Mike Cotton, Sam Rees-Jones, Rosie Franks, Jack Burgess, Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt and Doran Azouelos.
The Hollywood Reporter
The Wrap
|
posted 9/18/2026 |
 |
This Game Makes No Sense... and That's the Point
Richard Ayoade, Bob Mortimer to Host "Hot or Cold" for Netflix
From Radio Times |
Two of the most popular faces from Prime Video's Last One Laughing UK are heading to Netflix for a brand new comedy entertainment show built around a game that deliberately makes no sense.
Of course, it's Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade who will lead the line-up in Hot or Cold, a series set inside a mysterious institution where contestants tackle challenges with no obvious logic. The pair, who both featured in the first season of Last One Laughing UK alongside the likes of Daisy May Cooper, Joe Lycett and Rob Beckett, will front a cast of comedians and funny celebrities racing through room after room to be crowned Hot or Cold champions.
The premise takes the classic childhood guessing game and hands it to adults who, as Netflix say, "really should know better". Players get no instructions. Their only guide is the room itself, which glows red when they are getting warmer and blue when they are getting colder. The challenges span the simple to the completely absurd as pairs work out what on earth they are meant to be doing.
Mortimer, a two-time Last One Laughing UK favourite whose deadpan storytelling has made him one of British comedy's most-loved figures, said: "Spending time with Richard Ayoade is one of my all-time favourite things to do. Closely followed by playing Hot or Cold, so this has worked out brilliantly."
Ayoade, best known for The IT Crowd and as a former Travel Man host, offered a characteristically dry response to the show's stripped-back rules, adding: "Although I prefer mild temperatures, it's been instructive to participate in something as binary as this."
The series comes from Zeppotron, the production company behind Last One Laughing UK. Executive producer Chris Cohen said the show's baffling set-up suited him perfectly.
He commented: "I've spent my entire career in telly walking into rooms and having no idea what's going on, so it's a delight to work with Netflix and finally make a show with that exact premise. We are thrilled to have two of Britain's best in Bob and Richard at the heart of it all."
The full line-up of comedians and celebrities joining Mortimer and Ayoade, along with a release date, is yet to be confirmed.
Radio Times
British Comedy Guide
Chortle
TV Zone
Female First
Digital Spy
|
posted 9/23/2026 |
 |

A. Smith & Co/ITV America/Fox
Hell's Kitchen: 25 Under 25
Meet the 18 Chefs Competing
From The Futon Critic
|
Gordon Ramsay has spent the last 20 years going to Hell and back to find the best head chefs in America — but there’s a new job requirement for “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 25: No applicants over 25 years old.
“These kids have grown up not just watching the show, but there’s a big advantage with food on social media because of the level of insight, the kind of creativity it creates,” Ramsay told TheWrap of his young cast. “Plus, it’s free. Look at what you get to see and understand. So, these kids are the beneficiaries of that and it shows in their cooking. But above all that, their attitude was absolutely spot on.”
As you’ll see in the season premiere Thursday on Fox, “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 25 pulls from previous iterations “Young Guns” and “Battle of the Ages” to once again test which Gen Z chef is ready to be Ramsay’s next protégé.
“When you see these raw, focused, driven individuals, it’s one of the hungriest seasons we’ve ever had because they’re desperate for that platform,” the host and EP said. “They know me, so I was brutally honest with them: ‘You’re going to love me, you’re going to hate me, but you’ll leave a much better person, a much more talented individual.’”
There are 18 contenders, divided into the Blue Team (Men) and the Red Team (Women), who will step into the fiery kitchen to show off their skills.
-
Blue Team (Men): Aiden (22, Fullerton, California), Diego (21, Allen Park, Michigan), Dylan (22, Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Gabriel (25, Lake Worth, Florida), Jonathan “Jonny G” (23, Kenscoff, Haiti), Michael (24, Commack, New York), Miguel (22, Houston, Texas), Miles (22, Albuquerque, New Mexico), and Valentín (22, Mendoza, Argentina).
-
Red Team (Women): Georgiana (24, Romania, Botosani), Haley (24, Orlando, Florida), Jeyda (23, Houston, Texas), Joy (25, Pennsylvania), Kylie (24, Hopatcong, New Jersey), Mya (25, Beavercreek, Ohio), Nadia (24, George’s County, Maryland), Sandra (21, Bronx, New York), and Serenity (24, Cincinnati, Ohio).
Hell’s Kitchen is produced by ITV America’s ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions, Inc. Gordon Ramsay, Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Kenny Rosen, David George, and Bernie Schaeffer serve as executive producers.
Deadline
The Futon Critic
The Wrap
TV Insider
|
posted 9/2/2026 |
 |
Lawmakers Introduce 20% Federal Film Credit
Unscripted Productions Covered
From Deadline |
Unscripted television producers, long used to playing second fiddle to the feature film business and scripted TV world, are “ecstatic” that their trade is also being covered by the federal film and TV incentive that was introduced by lawmakers Thursday morning.
This was not an accident; Deadline reports that a group of unscripted producers and associations spent a large part of the summer lobbying for inclusion to stem the wave of big-budget competition shows and reality series that were moving out of the U.S.
Deadline spoke to around half a dozen unscripted producers, who were elated about the possibility of shooting more of their shows in the U.S., rather than abroad.
Yes, Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil was shot in the Czech Republic and Ridley Scott took Jacob Elordi to Italy rather than Colorado for The Dog Stars, but the large proportion of unscripted productions that have decamped to Australia, Canada, Ireland and Portugal over the past few years has been staggering.
Netflix’s Wonka’s The Golden Ticket was shot in Australia and its upcoming take on Monopoly was filmed in the UK; ABC’s upcoming Parker Posey-fronted mystery series The Mob was filmed in Italy, while Fox produces the likes of MasterChef and Fear Factor in Canada and Don’t Forget the Lyrics and Next Level Chef in Ireland.
Jay Pharoah, host of Fox game show The Quiz with Balls, told Deadline recently that his show has been shot in Australia and Belgium and he wasn’t a particular fan of the food in the latter.
“[President Donald] Trump got into office and there was a lot of different shifts with shooting. My understanding is that it’s easier and cheaper to shoot out of America now, which is ridiculous, but that’s how it is,” he said.
Similarly, Rob Lowe said the fact that it’s cheaper to bring 100 people to Ireland to shoot The Floor than film in L.A. was “criminal.”
Deadline
Deadline
|
posted 9/23/2026 |
 |

Netflix Studios
More on "Gabby's Dollhouse: Makers & Bakers"
Catch It on Netflix This Holiday
From The Futon Critic
|
A competition series inspired by the world of “Gabby’s Dollhouse” is coming to Netflix.
On December 9, Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers debuts with four holiday-themed episodes hosted by Laila Lockhart Kraner as Gabby, as talented young baker-and-maker duos take on whimsical crafting and baking challenges judged by Aidy Bryant, Justin Willman and Melissa Villaseñor.
Four holiday-themed episodes of the family-friendly competition will stream on Netflix later this year, with more episodes coming in 2027.
Variety
Netflix PR
Variety
Deadline
The Futon Critic
|
posted 9/2/2026 |
 |
Halloween Horror Nights Gets in the Game
"Better Luck Than Chuck" Offers Prizes for Trivia
From Broadway World |
Horror fans will have more than bragging rights on the line when the new horror-comedy trivia game show Better Luck Than Chuck premieres this Halloween season.
Beginning Thursday, September 24, 2026, the weekly YouTube series will invite viewers to test their genre knowledge, hunt for hidden clues in each episode, and enter for the chance to win a Universal theme park vacation to experience Halloween Horror Nights at either Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Hollywood.
New episodes of Better Luck Than Chuck debut every Thursday on the show's official YouTube channel, inviting horror lovers everywhere to put their genre knowledge to the test alongside contestants competing for prizes. Each episode will contain a hidden clue that viewers can spot while watching. Once they've uncovered the clue, fans can visit BetterLuckThanChuck.com/UniversalSweeps to submit that week's entry for a chance to win the grand prize vacation.
Adding to the excitement, each episode features special guest question readers from some of horror's biggest names, including filmmaker Mike Flanagan, producer Chad Villella (Radio Silence), music video and film director BJ McDonnell, and additional surprise guests from across the horror community. Their appearances help bring an extra layer of authenticity and fun to every episode while celebrating the creators and personalities who have helped shape modern horror.
'Watching the show is only half the fun,' said Tony Wash, co-creator of Better Luck Than Chuck. 'We wanted to reward horror fans for paying attention and celebrating the genre with us.' Co-creator Meredith Tummillo added, 'Halloween Horror Nights is one of the world's premier horror events, and we're thrilled to give one lucky viewer the opportunity to experience it firsthand.'
Hosted by The Widow (Alexis Allotta), the self-proclaimed 'Wittiest Witch of the Midwest,' and her sarcastic undead husband Charlie (Adam Michaels), Better Luck Than Chuck combines horror knowledge, outrageous comedy, and nostalgic game show fun into a one-of-a-kind competition. Each episode features horror superfans battling through inventive 'cate-GORY' challenges inspired by the films, monsters, and moments that have defined the genre.
The six-episode debut season premieres Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 8:00pm / 7:00pm CT with new episodes released weekly on the official Better Luck Than Chuck YouTube channel.
Broadway World
Bloody Disgusting
|
posted 9/23/2026 |
 |
Thursday Lightning Round
... or "Have I Got a Problem..." |
|

posted 9/14/2023 |
 |
MORE NEWS
GSNN 30-Day News
Archive
GSNN
3-Month News Archive |
|
ON TODAY
| Wednesday |
| |
The Challenge: Cutthroat 2
Paramount+
Family Feud
syn
Jeopardy!
syn/Peacock/Hulu/Disney+/Crave
Love Is Blind: Netherlands
Premiere
Netflix
Outside
Netflix
Scrambled Up
syn/Samsung TV Plus
Wheel of Fortune
syn/Peacock/Hulu/Disney+/Crave
Wonka's The Golden Ticket
Season Finale
Netflix |
10a
3p
|
Let's Make a Deal
CBS/Paramount+ |
| 11a |
The Price Is Right
CBS/Paramount+
|
| noon |
25 Words or Less
Live
XumoPlay/YouTube/syn |
| 4:30p |
The Perfect Line
syn/GSN |
| 5p |
Flip Side
syn/GSN
25 Words or Less
Live
XumoPlay/YouTube/syn |
| 8p |
Daily Trivia Live
Live
Swagbucks
The Floor
Fox
Survivor 51
CBS/Paramount+ |
| 9p |
The Great American Road Rally
CW
99 to Beat
Fox
Shark Tank
Season Premiere
ABC
Totally '90s House
Season Finale
HGTV
|
| 9:30p |
The Amazing Race
Season Premiere
CBS/Paramount+
|
| 10p |
Shark Tank
ABC |
| 12:35a |
Funny You Should Ask
CBS/Paramount+ |
| 1:05a |
Funny You Should Ask
CBS/Paramount+ |
All times and editors eastern
Friends of GSNN
 
 
 
 

FlashGames
Bother's Bar
About.com Game Shows
QWIZX.com
The Futon Critic
Reality TV World
Hollywood Junket
Hal Boedeker: the TV Guy
F*** Yeah Game Shows @ Tumblr
GSNtheKnow
Gay Geeks of New York
Copyright Statement
ALL ORIGINAL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1999-2025 GAMESHOWNEWSNET.COM. All rights reserved.
No infringement of copyright is intended by these fan pages;
production companies of shows this site covers retain all
rights to the sounds, images, and information contained
herein. No challenge to copyright is implied.
Web design by Jason Elliott. Logo by Chico Alexander.
Full Copyright Statement
Powered by 1&1 Internet
|